Professional Experience

2021 - present: WINK News morning anchor
2019 - 2021: WINK News weekend anchor/reporter
2018 - 2019: WINK News reporter
Previously worked as a weekend anchor and reporter at KMIZ in Columbia, Missouri.

Awards and Recognition

2019 Suncoast Regional Emmy Award nomination for reporting on a "Bomb Squad Search at a Home in Cape Coral."
Two Heart of America Gold Awards from the Kansas City Press Club for a special report on "Surviving a Mass Shooting" and for several reports on human and sex trafficking in mid-Missouri.

News Philosophy

Be a voice for the voiceless.

Education

Ohio University, E.W. Scripps School of Journalism

Hometown

Canonsburg, PA

Hobbies and Interests & Community Involvement

I love soaking up the sun. You can find me relaxing at the beach or at the pool with a good murder mystery book. I enjoy working out and recently became a certified Les Mills Body Pump instructor. Being just a short flight away from so many beautiful countries and territories in the Caribbean, I love exploring new areas and cultures. Animals are my favorite. I am a volunteer at the Gulf Coast Humane Society and help other rescue organizations with events and fundraisers. I also volunteer with Best Buddies Southwest Florida and the Children's Advocacy Center.

Family and Pets

My husband and I are proud parents to two black cats named Isaac and Cleo.

Likes best about Southwest Florida:

The weather and beaches. We live where people vacation.

 

Partnership helps criminals struggling with mental illness

Locking them up and throwing away the key is a thing of the past for the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. The agency is partnering with Charlotte Behavioral Health Care to help those struggling with mental illness. A lot of times the crime that they are committing are not serious crimes at all and so these […]

Arrest made in 2017 Lehigh Acres shooting homicide

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference Tuesday afternoon in regards to a homicide arrest. A vehicle driven by Aden James Wright, 20, was found in a ditch on Leonard Boulevard South in Lehigh Acres September 14, 2017. Wright had multiple gunshot wounds and died at the hospital. Krisroy Amison Lloyd, 45, was arrested […]

Charlotte County school district adds 30 minutes to school day

Charlotte County public school students will be ringing in the 2019 school year with a new bell schedule. The School District of Charlotte County is adding an additional 30 minutes to the day. Parents like Chris Taylor are supportive of the measure. “Less time them being home and being on videos and doing stuff they […]

Crash on I-75 in North Fort Myers kills one, leaves infant in critical condition

One man is dead and an infant in critical condition after a three-vehicle crash in North Fort Myers Wednesday morning. The crash on I-75 southbound happened on the bridge over the Caloosahatchee River, mile marker 142 just after 9 a.m. Two outside lanes have been blocked for more than six hours as traffic backed up for […]

Felons register to vote as Amendment 4 is implemented. Photo via WINK News.

Felons across Florida have their voting rights restored

It was a day filled with hugs and handshakes for Lance Wissinger. “It was an amazing, emotional experience,” Wissinger said. It started with breakfast with family and friends, followed by a walk to the Lee County Supervisor of Elections office, where he and other felons registered to vote. “Now I realize how much it meant to […]

Complaints pile up in Cape Coral as garbage sits curbside uncollected

Last year more than 800 complaints were filed with the city against Waste Pro USA Inc. for things like trash and items sitting at the curb for weeks not getting picked up. While some people have seen improvements, they say more needs to be done to keep their curbs clean. An old couch, mattress, and box […]

Friend remembers 78-year-old Frances Axley, Naples homicide victim

Collier County investigators are intensifying their search for a suspect in a Naples killing, and we’re getting our first look at who the victim, 78-year-old Frances Axley, is. She moved to Southwest Florida in 1996. Her friend, who moved here with her says she was well liked, saying she was a dedicated woman. Dedicated to her […]

Marjory Stoneman Douglas safety commission releases school security report

A more than 400-page report is dedicated to the 17 people who lost their lives in the 2018 Valentine’s Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Jennifer Garcia is a kindergarten teacher at Discovery Day Academy in Bonita Springs. She is a parent herself and takes school security seriously. “All day we’re busy with […]

Overturned vehicle. Photo via WINK News.

One vehicle overturned in a Cape Coral crash Wednesday afternoon

A busy road in Cape Coral reopened following a nasty two vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon. Cape Coral Police and Fire cleared Santa Barbara Blvd. and Diplomat Pkwy. in Cape Coral as traffic once again commutes through. One of the vehicles involved flipped over on its top. Cape Coral Police said no one was hurt in the […]

The smartphone, a blacklisted device. Photo via WINK News.

Woman unknowingly buys ‘blacklist’ phone on a marketplace app

In the era of online shopping, it is becoming increasingly difficult to spot real items from fake ones even if the person meets with the seller to pick up the item. This Christmas, Baily Gregory decided to treat herself to a new phone. “I’ve been saving up for a long time to be able to […]